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N. L. GULLIFORD MACHINE FOR TURNING HEELS Filed Deo. :24.y 1925 s sheets-sheet l Si@ w? July 3, 1928.

N. L. GULLIFORD MACHINE FOR TURNING HEELS 2 t e A- n., A s t m n m s 1U Tl 5 3 4.. 5 mW 4 f w D ,Jr m M Vw n .u $003 u F9@ 5 July 3, 1928. 1,676,218 N. L. GULLIFORD HACHINE FOR TURNING HEELS Filed Dey. 24. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Iza/vena?.-

Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS L. GULLIFORD, OF PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GREGORY & READ COMPANY, 0F LYNNQMASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TURNING HEELS.

Application filed December 24, 1925. Serial No. 77,600.

This invention aims to provide a durable machine for economically and accurately turning heels and like articles and that is capa-ble ot' being readily adjusted for turn- .ing blanks of different sizes and shapes.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown merely for illustrative purposes one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a right hand side elevation of a. heel turning machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a detail side elevation partly in section of the blank holding device, controlling cams and cutter;v

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown Iin Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the part-s shown in Fig. 3 `with theblank holder removed;

Fig. 6 is an inside elevation of the lett hand upper cam supporting bracket as viewed from the line 6-6 ot Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the bearings of one of the cutter spindles.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a turning machine embodying twin cutters A and B arranged in substantially close prox-V imity to cooperate with a workholder C which may be swung from one cutter to the other to effect theturning ot the sides and back ot the blank or' a wood heel, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to two cutters nor to the particular type ot blank holder herein used nor is it limited to the turning ot heel blanks.

The cutters herein illustrated are of well known type and secured in any known manner respeetivelyto the ends of spindles l and 2, these spindles being arranged with their axes substantially vertical and approximately parallel to each other in appropriate bearing means, herein including upper and lower bearing rmembers 3 and 4 secured re# spectively to cross members 5 and 6, constituting poi-tios ot the liront section 7 of the i'i'iachine trame. y

The vtront section 7 of the trame is provided with rearwardly extending members S secured by bolts to side members 10 and 1l of the machine trame. A rear frame member l2 is interposed between the' rear ends ot the side members l() and 11 and secured to said members by any appropriate means. The side members 1() may be and herein are further tied together by a tie rod 13 extending transversely between the members 1() and 11 intermediate ot the front and rear frames 7 and 12.

The spindles 1 and 2 are called upon to rotate at a very high rate of speed and because of this speed it is desirable to employ roller or ballbearings, but heretofore it has been impossible to yuse them in machines of 'the type shown because oflack ot space and `the tendency ot' said spindles to whip out and destroy them. By the arrangement herein shown'. however, bearings of the ball type have been found to operate successfully .tor a long period of time and to materially reduce the power required for operating the machine. The preferred construction includes adjacent the upper end of each of said spindles a shoulder 14 against which is seated an inner ball race 15, herein held by `a nut 1G having screw-threaded engagement with threads 17 formed upon the spindle. The nut 16 is arranged to engage the under sid-e el the inner ball race 15 and maintain it firmly against the shoulder 14, and a lock pin 18 extends through the nut and said spindle to prevent inadvertent loosening of said nut. Said inner ball race is provided with an annular groove v19 `to receive balls 20. An outer race 21 encircles said series ot balls and is mounted in a bearing housing 22, ot relatively Vsmall dimension; against `a shoulder 23 formed in said housing and in which position it is held by a retaining ring 24- sccured to said housing against the face ol: said outer ball race in opposed relation to the shoulder By reason ot' this arL rangement the upperball races will be lirmly held in place against movements axially ot their spindles.` Suilicient clearance is provided within the bearing, as shown at 25, to conta-in a lubricant, and this lubricant is prevented from escaping around the spindle by suitable gaskets 26 and 27 desirably com posed oi felt or similar material and inserted in annular recesses in the collar 24 and h0us ing 22 respectively. The lower end of the spindlel is desirably threaded at 28 which threads are preferably of the same diameter `the threads 17 ,1 while the intermediate portion 29 of said spindle is turned down sufficiently to facilitate the passing of the nut 16 from the lower end of the spindle past the threads `28 to the threads 17.

The lower bearing member 4 is herein constructed to float axially with respect to the spindle 2 so as to take care of any expansion or contraction of said spindle which would take place to a considerable degree in a high speed spindle.

To this end an inner ball race 30 is secured to the spindle between nuts 31 and 32 arranged in screw threaded engagement with the threads 28 and held firmly in position against said ball race by pins 33, passing through said nuts and the spindle 2.

The member 30 is .annularly grooved at 34 in its outer face to receive rollers or balls 35 and these balls are held in place within said groove by an outer race member 36, the outer cylindrical face 37 whereof has aXial sliding engagement with an inner cylindrical surface 38 of the bearing housing 39. Desirably the ends of said housing are closed by an integral end wall-40 at the lower end and aremovable end wall 41 at the upper end, which latter has screw threaded engagement with the housing to facilitate removal and replacement of the bearings. Dust and grease rings 42 and 43 are arranged respectively in grooves formed in said end walls 40 and 4l and snugly tit the adjacent portions of the spindle 2, thus preventing escape of grease from the bearing housing or the working thereinto of dust and dirt from the outside.

A ily wheel 44 is secured to each of the spindles l and 2 desirably adjacent to the lower bearing members 4 for the purpose of -steadying the operation of said spindles, and to the lower end of each spindle is secured a pulley 45, herein highly crowned and provided with flanges 46 and 47 for preventing the operating belts for said pulleys from running off.

Motion is imparted to the spindles l and 2 by electric motors 47 and 48, herein secured between the frame members l() and l1 with their respective shafts 49 and 50 substantially parallel with the spindles l and 2. A pulley 51 is secured herein to the lower end of each motor shaft and is operatively eonneetcd with one of the pulleys of a cutter spindle by a belt 52. By reason of this arrangement of pulleys and belts it will be apparent that said belts may be removed or replaced freely without disconnecting their ends, a clear space being provided beneath said pulleys to facilitate these operations.

Furthermore by eliminating the necessity of providing lacings for these belts an endless woven belt may be used which will stretch, if at all7 uniformly on both sides and will run smoothly and not cause the machine to vibrate as in the case where laced belts are used which lacings pound against the pulleys each time they revolve and cause waves to appear in the surface of the heels, work produced upon a vibrating mach-ine being much inferior to that produced on the machine herein shown.

Adjustment of the motors 47 and 48 toward and away from their respective spindles for tightening or loosening the driving belts is provided for herein by forming slots 53 in the adjacent portions of the side frames l() and l1 and by securing the base flanges 54 of said motors against said frames by bolts 55 which extend through said slots and when released may be moved longitudinally of said slots toward or away fromthe spindles Although separate motors are employed fordriving the respective spindles it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such an arrangement, nor to the specific means for tightening said belts.

In practice the cutters AV and'B are rotated in opposite directions vand the work holder or clamping head C carrying the wood heel block l) is swung from a central position shown in full lines (Fig. 4) lirst to one cutter' to turn one side of the heel blank and then to the other cutter to turn the other side of said blank.

The work holder C herein shown consists of a lower jaw plate 56 against which the surface corresponding to the top of the heel rests with the heel block inverted, and with the breast thereof in contact with a breast guage 57, said lower jaw plate 5G and the gauge 57 being mounted upon a base 58 that is pivoted to swing about a horizontal pivot 59 carried at the upper end of a vertical shaft 60. An upper jaw 6l also forming a part of the clamping head is pivotally mounted upon the base 58 to swing relatively to the lower jaw 56 into engagement with the bottom surface of the heel blank (see Fig. l) and to be held thereagainst by any known or appropriate means not constituting a part of this invention.

Mounted adjacent to the work and upon said shaft 60 is a cam G2arranged approximately symmetrical to the axis of said shaft and in cooperative relation to a relatively fixed gauge 63 secured to the front member 7 of the frame and extending around in front of the cutter. llhe shaft GO is herein mounted on bearings 64 in the outer end of a link 65 for vertical and rotary movements, said link 65 being in turn mounted for independent pivotal movement upon a vertical shaft 66, herein secured in bearings 67 and (38 eX- tending forwardly from the front member 7 of the main frame.

An operating handle 69 is provided upon the clamping head C for effecting the rotation of said head about an axisfcorresponding to the axis of the shaft 60 and a second handle 7 0 placed somewhat nearer the axis .lill

of said shaft 6() than is the Vhandle G9, is provided for rocking the link carrying said clamping head about the axis of the shaft 6G.

As is customary in machines of this character, following the placing and clamping of the blank, the operator rocks the head C first about the axis of the shaft 60, say for example, in the general direction of the arrow a: (F ig. 4), following up this action by swinging the entire headtogether with the link close enough to the cutter 2 to cause the forward corner 71 of the gauge cam G2 to contact with the fixed `gauge 63 which prevents furthermoven'ient of the head in the direction of said arrow a. The clamping head is next rocked by the handle 69 about the axis of the shaft 60 for approximately 99 in the direction of the arrow c, the operator all the while exerting pressure upon the handle 70 to maintain the periphery of the cam 62 in Contact with the gauge G3 which latter determines the depth and contour of the cut. This completes the turning of the side of the heel bla-nk from said corner 71 back to the rear center line of said heel. lf `ol`iowing the aforesaid operation the head is swung in the direction of the arrow Zi and similar operations carried out upon the other side of the blank beginning at the front corner 72 of the heel` block. Y

To produce the desired taper or angle of the out ofthe heel block it desirable to provide a rocking action of blank about a horizontal axis, for example` about the axis of the pivot 59, and also bodily to change the position of the blank vertically.

To the above ends it has been customary to provide upper and lower camtracks 73 'and 74 respectively, the upper track being arranged for engagement by a rider or shoe 7 5 carried underneath the operating lever 69 and adapted automatically to rock the clamping,r head C about the pivot` 459 to the desired angle as said head is swung to the right or left toward said cutters. The track 74: is arranged to be engaged by a rider 76 carried herein by a forked bracket 77 secured to the lower end of the shaft 60.

By proper manipulations of the cam tracks 73` and 74 the level of the heel blanks may be changed with respect tothe cutters and likewise the angle of cut andincidentally the shape of the finished heel maybe materially varied.

According to the present invention the lower cam track 74 includes curved end portions 80 and 81 connected together by a sul stantially straight part 82. The centersof the curved portions 80 and 81 are desirably eccentric to the centers ,of the spindles 1 and 2 and are located in front of said spindles slightly-to one side of the latter in the direction of the other spindle, while the upper edge of said track along which the roller 7 8 travels is lshown approximately level although. it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedin this respect.

The track 7 -t is desirably supported upon brackets 83 and 84 mounted for vertical adjustment upon the front frame member 7, said track having a lateral flange 85 which is secured by screws 86 and 87 to said brackets 83 and 84.

The brackets 83 and 84: are desirably adapted to be moved vertically with respect to the main frame of the machine by means of screws 88 `and 89 arranged vertically in screw threaded engagement respectively with lateral projections 90 and 91 herein on the front member 7 of said main frame, said screws engaging lower portions 4of said brackets 88 and 89.

The aforesaid brackets are each further provided with a vertically arranged slot 92 through which a screw 93 extends into engagement with said frame and firmly secures its bracket in adjusted position.

The upper cam track 73 is also supported for vertical adjustment with respect to said frame herein upon brackets 94 and 95 secured to opposite sides of said frame member 7 by clamping screws 96 extending through vertical slots 97 formed in said brackets, and having screw threaded engagement ywith adjacent portions of said frame member 7. Vertically ar anged screws 98 and 99, having screw threaded engagement respectively with lugs 100 and 101 carried by said frame member 7, seat against the lower edges of said brackets 9a and 95 and constitute adjustable rests therefor.

As previously stated the work holder C is arranged to swing in a vertical plane about the horizontal pivot 59 during the movements of the head from side to side or the swinging thereof about its vertical pivot or pivots, and it will be apparent that by varying the extent of said vertically swinging movement during the cutting operation the angle of the cut of the linished heel will be correspondingly varied.

To the above ends the shoe or rider as it is sometimes called 7 5 is normally disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of said work holder herein the shaft 60 and rests upon the upper edge of the track. 73 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This track has curved ends 97 and 98 which herein start respectively from points 99 and 100 relatively close to the axes ofthe cutters A and B in grad.

ually widening curves 97 and 98 to points 101' and 102 in front of said cutters where they merge into a tangential straight connecting part 103.

The upper edge of the track 7 3 may be arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 3 or it may be tilted to different angles as will hereinafter be explained, but assuming that it is horizontal and that the head or work holder is in the dotted line position of Fig.

It it will be apparent that therider 7 5 will be occupying its position of least angularity with respect to the oi' the shaft 60 because it rests upon the portion vof the track 73 that is nearest to said axis and the axis oit the pivot 59. It, from the above position, the holder is swung horizontally about the axis o't' the shaft 60 with the cam 62 rocking about tl c face of the gauge 63, the rider 75 will slide around on the gradually withdrawing upper edge ot the curve 98 which will cause a gradual increase in the angle ot' said rider to the axis of said shaft 60, and tl ereby ellect a vertical swinging of said work holder and the consequent tapering down ofthe heel 'from top to bottom.

It will also be seen that by varying the position of the upper edge of the track 73 by tilting either to a position more nearly parallel with the under surface of the rider 75 or to a position et greater' angularity with respect thereto, the taper of the heel will be decreased orincreased respectively.

In the present invention means have been provided toi-'varying the tilt ot said track 73 comprising cooperating tongues 104 and angularly spaced grooves 105, see Figs. 5 and 6. Desirably the tongues 104 are in the form ot plates 106 secured to each side of the track T3 while the grooves 105 are formed in the adjacent 'faces ot the brackets 94C and 95.

The centers et the grooves 105 may be and herein are shown radial to a common imaginary point 107 (see'Figs. 3 and 6) located near a transverse plane containing the axes of the cutter spindles 1 and 2 although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the radial arrangement shown nor to the number' or positions of the grooves and tongues shown.

To guard against inadvertent longitudinal movement of the tongues 104 in said grooves 105 clamping means are provided herein screws 108 which extend through arcuate slots 109 in said brackets, into screw threaded engagement with the track member.

When it is desired to change the angle of said track the screws 108 on both sides ot the machine are first removed from their slots and the entire track member is then removed from the machine by sliding said tongues from the grooves within which they happen to be resting. The tongues lmay then be inserted in another set of grooves corresponding to the position desired and vthe screws 108 replaced and set up. v

By means of the foregoing adjustment the cam track 73 may be easily and accurately fixed at the angle desired without danger of lts Working loose or inadvertently changing its position because of vibrations ot the machine.

Although I have disclosed in detail one full and complete embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.

Claims: l v- 1. In a heel turning machine'at least one work member arranged'to'rotate about a ver'- tical axis, a work holder arranged to swing about vertical and horizontal axes into operative relation with said work-memberto effeet the shaping of the work, a rider carried by said work holder, a curved track member for supporting said rider in varying angular positions as said work holder swings about its vertical axis, a supporting bracket member for said track, a tongue in one ofi-said members and a plurality of angularly spaced grooves respectively to receive said tongue and maintain said track in a predetermined angular position with respect to said work member for guidin: said vwork holder in swinging about its horizontalaxis.

2. ln aheel turning machine at least one work member arranged to rotate about a vertical axis. a work holder arranged toswing about'vertical and horizontal axes into operative engagement with said Iwork member to effect the shapin ot the work, a rider carried by said work holder, a4 curved track member for supporting` said rider in varying angular posit-ions as said work holderswingsabout its vertical axis, a supporting bracket member for said track, al tonguein one'oi'y said members and a plurality of angularly spaced grooves respectively to receive said tongue an d rigidly maintain said track in a predetermined angular position with respect to said work member. 8. In a. heel'turning machine at least one work member arranged to rotate vabout a vertical axis, a work holder arranged to swing about vertical and horizontalaxes into operative engagement with said work inemberto effect the yshaping of the work, a rider carried by said work holder, a curved track member for supporting said rider in varying angular positions as said work holder swings about its vertical axis. a supporting bracket member for said track, a tongue in one of said members, a plurality of angularly spaced grooves respectively to receive said tongue and maint-ain said track in apredetermined angular position with respect to', said work member and means to raise and lower said bracket. l y

4. A heel turning machine comprising in combination, a cutter arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, a work holder arranged? to swing about horizontal and vertical axes,

means to maintain said work holder at a pre` determined level kwith respect to said cutter including a curved track and a rider to travel upon said track during the swinging`v of said holder in a horizontal plane, a second curved track, a rider carried by said work holder and arrange to travel upon said second curved track during the swinging of said holder iso about its vertical axis and means to vary the angle of inclination of said second track including a series of radially arranged grooves and a cooperating tongue movable from one to another of said grooves and means to prevent longitudinal movement of said tongue while in said grooves.

5. In a heel turning machine at least one work member arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, a work holder arranged to swing about vertical and horizontal axes into operative engagement with said work member to effect 'the shaping of the work, a rider carried by said work holder, a curved track member for supporting said rider in varying angular positions as said work holder swings about its vertical axis, a pair of spaced supporting brackets tor said track each provided with a series of' substantially radial grooves, tongues on said track arranged respectively to cooperate with selected grooves ot said series to rigidly support said track at the desired angle with respect to said cutter and means to secure said tongues in said grooves.

6. In a heel turning machine at least one work member arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, a work holder arranged to swing about vertical and horizontal axes into operative engagement with said work member to effect the shaping of the work, a rider carried by said work holder, a curved track member for supporting said rider in varying angular positions as said work holder swings about its vertical axis, supporting brackets for said track each having a series oit' spaced grooves radial to a common center arranged approximately in the transverse plane containing the axis of said work member, tongues carried by said track member for engaging selected grooves of said series and means to secure said tongues within said grooves.

7. In a heel turning machine at least one work member arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, a work 'holden arranged to swing about vertical and horizontal axes into operative engagement with said work member to effect the shaping of the work7 a rider carried by said work holder, a curved track member for supporting said rider in varying angular positions as said work holder swings about its vertical axis, supporting brackets for said track each having a series of spaced grooves radial to a common center arranged approximately in the transverse plane containing the axis of said work member, tongues carried by said track member for engaging selected grooves of said series and means for adjusting said supporting brackets vertically with respect to said work member.

8. In al heel turning machine a work member, a work holder arranged to be swung both horizontally and vertically in cooperation with said work member, means including a curved track member for eiecting the vertical swinging movements of said holder during the horizontal swinging movements thereof, at least one bracket for supporting said track member and means including a series oit' spaced cooperating elements to hold said track in. a plurality of definitely fixed positions on said bracket.

9. In a heel turning machine a work member, a work holder arranged to be swung both horizontally and vertically in cooperation with said work member, means including a curved track member for eecting the vertical swinging movements of said holder during the horizontal swinging movements thereof, at least one vertically adjustable bracket lfor supporting said track member and means to hold said track in a plurality of definitely fixed positions on said bracket.

l0.` In a heel turning machine a work member, a work holder arranged to be swung both horizontally and vertically in cooperation with said work member, means including a curved track member for effecting the vertical swinging movements of said holder during the horizontal swinging movements thereof and a series of angularly spaced cooperating elements for maintaining said curved track in definite angular positions relatively to said work member.

ll. In combination, a frame; a work member; a work holder arranged to swing horizontally and vertically in cooperation with said work member; and means to support said work holder in a. plurality of definite angular positions relatively to said frame, including a series of spaced radial elements on one member and means carried by the other member to engage a predetermined oue of said radial elements.

l2. In combination, a frame; a work member; a work holder arranged to swing horizontally and vertically in cooperation with said work member; and means to support said work holder in a plurality of detinite angular positions relatively to said frame, including the cooperating parts 104 and 105.

In testimony where-oli', I have signed my name to this specification.

NICHOLAS L. GULLIFORD. 

